Escaped child murderer ‘may be sleeping rough’

West Mercia Police said they are following up possible sightings of Alan Giles across the South Warwickshire area.

The 56-year-old, who absconded from HMP Hewell in Redditch, Worcestershire, at about 11am on Monday, was reportedly seen in Inkberrow on Thursday night.

Police went to the village in Worcestershire on Thursday and were there again yesterday, a force spokesperson said.

Giles, originally from the Oldbury area of the West Midlands, was given a 19-year tariff for the 1995 kidnap and murder of teenager Kevin Ricketts.

The 16-year-old’s body was not found until 1998, after Giles asked to speak to detectives while serving his sentence.

Giles, who has had recent contact with family in the West Midlands, would have been eligible to apply for parole next year. He is believed to have absconded from an “open” section of the prison on foot.

No-one else is thought to have been involved in helping the on-the-run killer, who may have used the public transport network to leave the area.

It is understood measures have been taken to ensure the safety of members of Kevin’s family, who have been informed that Giles is at large.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Judge said: “Giles could be sleeping rough in woodland or farm buildings and we would appeal to dog walkers, farmers, gamekeepers and others to keep their eyes peeled and stay alert.”